Kansas Jayhawks Rally Late to Beat Texas Tech Red Raiders

Freshman Darryn Peterson hits two key 3-pointers in the final 1:20 to lead Kansas to a 64-61 victory.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 2:31am

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The 11th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks overcame a late nine-point deficit to beat the 13th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders 64-61 on Monday night. Freshman Darryn Peterson scored 19 points, including two 3-pointers in the final 1:20 to tie the game and then put Kansas ahead for good. The Red Raiders, playing without starting point guard Christian Anderson, had a 59-50 lead with 6:05 to go but were held to only one made field goal in the final minutes as Kansas closed the game on a 14-2 run.

Why it matters

This was an important Big 12 Conference matchup between two ranked teams, with Kansas rallying late to pick up a key road win. The loss at home was a tough one for Texas Tech, which had beaten Kansas in each of the previous two seasons. The game also highlighted the impact of Anderson's absence for the Red Raiders, as he leads the Big 12 in assists.

The details

Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson scored 19 points, including two clutch 3-pointers in the final 1:20 to tie the game at 61 and then put the Jayhawks ahead for good. Texas Tech had built a 59-50 lead with 6:05 remaining, but the Red Raiders made only one of their final 12 shots as Kansas closed the game on a 14-2 run. Melvin Council Jr. had 16 points for Kansas, while LeJuan Watts recorded a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds for Texas Tech.

  • The game was played on Monday, February 2, 2026.
  • Kansas hit the two key 3-pointers in the final 1:20 of the game to rally for the win.

The players

Darryn Peterson

A freshman for the Kansas Jayhawks who scored 19 points, including two crucial 3-pointers in the final minutes to lead the comeback.

LeJuan Watts

The leading scorer for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, recording a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Christian Anderson

The starting point guard for Texas Tech who missed the game due to illness. He leads the Big 12 in assists.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to win these close games, especially at home. Credit to Kansas for making the plays down the stretch.”

— Grant McCasland, Head Coach, Texas Tech Red Raiders

“Darryn really stepped up when we needed him most. His poise and confidence in those final minutes were huge for us.”

— Bill Self, Head Coach, Kansas Jayhawks

What’s next

Kansas will host Utah on Saturday, February 7th, while Texas Tech will visit West Virginia on Sunday, February 8th.

The takeaway

This game showcased the resilience of the Kansas Jayhawks, who were able to overcome a late deficit on the road against a ranked opponent. The absence of Christian Anderson was a significant factor for Texas Tech, highlighting his importance to the team. Both squads will look to build on this result as they continue their conference play in the Big 12.